obama returning from a post-thanksgiving round of golf, but off the links, the clock is ticking. lawmakers need to hammer out a deal to prevent the so called fiscal cliff. deep spending cuts and tax hikes set to take effect next year. >> i think we're all aware that we have some urgent business to do. >> reporter: after a meeting at the white house last week, congressional leaders struck a rare tone of bipartisanship. >> we had a very constructive meeting with the president. >> we feel very comfortable with each other. >> reporter: but a major sticking point remains -- taxes. president obama wants to let the bush era tax cuts expire for the wealthiest americans. many republicans still oppose that idea. aides have been trying to work out a compromise. >> none of this is pretty. it's actually ridiculous. pretty dysfunctional politics. we've set this crazy trap for ourselves and we're about to inflict a wound on our economy that really doesn't need that. >> reporter: in addition, the fragile cease fire looms large in the middle east. some analysts say this could be an opening for m
